Immunology & Immunogenetics

Autoimmune diseases are a case of mistaken identity in which the body's immune system, which ordinarily attacks intruders like viruses and bacteria, attacks itself. There are more than 100 different autoimmune diseases, some of which involve a single organ (e.g. Hashimoto's thyroiditis) and others that attack nearly any organ or tissue (e.g. lupus). Autoimmunity is the system of immune responses of an organism against its own healthy cells and tissues.

Inflammation is a critical response to potential danger signals and damage in organs in our body. In diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and others, the immune system turns against the bodies’ organs. Inflammatory diseases include a vast array of disorders and conditions that are characterized by inflammation.